Arcadis wins contract to improve water services in Makkah

Arcadis has been awarded a contract to develop a water, wastewater, treated sewage effluent and an asset management master plan for the holy city of Makkah in Saudi Arabia.

The consultancy firm will support the National Water Company in expanding and improving Makkah’s water supply and service under the 18-month contract, Arcadis said in a statement.

“The city of Makkah is a focal point of Muslim pilgrims often swelling the population above its base of two million inhabitants to over six million during religious festivals placing significant demands on basic services”, said Philip Bourne, Water Sector Director – Middle East at Arcadis.

“The water service coverage in Makkah is low – around 65 percent of the populated area and the wastewater service coverage is less. There is currently not sufficient capacity in the treatment plants to treat the additional flow and load,” Bourne added.

Arcadis will prepare a database study of Makkah’s water and wastewater infrastructure assets; develop an integrated water, wastewater and treated sewage effluent master plan; and prepare a capital investment plan for 2015 to 2050.

When complete, the study will provide a master plan to enable future planning of water and wastewater services for the 7 million people in the region along with industrial clients to the year 2050. Emergency works will also be contemplated as part of the study.